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New Haven Man Charged With Kidnapping Ex-Girlfriend

A New Haven man is facing kidnapping, strangulation, assault, and unlawful restraint charges after Branford Police say he kidnapped his ex-girlfriend as she was coming home from work Wednesday night.

Police say David Butler, 39, was apparently waiting for the woman on her front porch, began yelling at her, took her car keys, grabbed her by the throat, and forced her into her car and took off at a high rate of speed. The car went from Branford to West Haven to East Haven, and eventually ended up on Crown Street in New Haven, said authorities.

Police say the 31-year-old victim was able to send text messages to her aunt, stating that she had been abducted. The aunt, in-turn, contacted police.

About an hour later, authorities say Yale University Police found the victim and her vehicle on Crown Street. She had minor injuries. Butler was arrested without incident– held on $25,000 bail pending arraignment Thursday in New Haven Superior Court.